League form was cast aside at Rectory Road where Oakley Sports emerged 2-1 away winners over Campton, the hosts who started the day without key players Dave McArthur, Paul Still and Stephen Gay were to open the tie by going ahead just three minutes into the contest with a goal from Andrew Hayday but the visitors were level five minutes later when John Searle with a breakaway run made it 1-1 but before the half-time whistle had sounded the home supporters were twice braying for referee John Chidley blood after first he only yellow carded the Oakley goalkeeper has he rushed out of his area to drag a rampant Gary Gibson down then disallowed a goal from Chris Fry for offside, Oakley's Chris Huckle then netting the visitors winner fifthteen minutes from time.

Meanwhile also making their cup exit were Riseley Sports beaten 4-0 at Sparten South Midlands League side 61FC Luton.

Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup Third Round.

It was a day of shocks in the third round of The Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup with Division Three club Marsh Leys leading the way with an 5-2 home win over Division One side AFC Kempston Town Reserves, Alan Cudjoe helped himself to two goals and was supported by single strikes from Simon Wade, Liam Parker and Dave Box against a brace in reply from Town's Tristan Peck, not far behind The Marshmen were Division Two outfit Marabese Ceramics who claimed a 4-2 home win over Division One Stevington thanks to two goals from Denver Donaldson plus strikes from Rees Tudball and Gary Wing against replies from Richard Howlett and Gavin White.

Another Division Two outfit beating Division One opposition were Potton Wanderers who claimed a 3-2 win after extra time at Kempston Hammers Sports, Paul Knockles had shot the Hammers into a early lead but by half-time Charlie Seward had levelled matters for The Wanderers who then took the lead in the new half with a goal from Joe Aris only to see a Ashley Crowther strike take the game into extra time during which Amit Patel came up with The Wanderers winner.

Not quite making it onto the giant-killing board were Division Three League Leaders Leighton United who were eventually beaten in a penalty shoot-out at Division Two high flyers Great Barford, all seemed to be going well for United in the opening half after goals from Sahid Hallaway and Adam Barker had taken them into a 2-0 lead but the home side were back in the tie three minutes from the break with a strike from Gary Russon before having to be thankful to their substitute goalkeeper Fraser Windram who had replaced the injured Danny Freeman twenty minutes into the contest has he saved well from Hallaway to prevent United restoring their two goal advantage right on the break.

Barford's Daniel Stafford should have levelled matters in the opening minute of the new half has he planted a header over the crossbar from close range before his side levelled matters ten minutes later, United goalkeeper Adam Fitzjohn at first saving well from Russon only for the ball to fall at the feet of Freddie Windram who netted from the rebound to make it 2-2 and take the tie into extra time, during which the home side had the perfect chance to seal matters from the penalty spot after Fitzjohn had pulled down Russon but the United keeper was to make amends by keeping out Daniel Jeffrey effort with his legs.

So into a shoot-out we went, with Jonathon Prior and Jeffrey putting the first two home kicks away which were cancelled out by United's Stuart Gore and Jason Bartlett then the drama begun with both the third penalty takers missing, Barford's Nicholas Attwater hitting the bar to be followed by United's Colin Moore placing his effort wide of the uprights.

Successful takes from Barford's Russon and Jason Ames and United's Jonathan O'Donnell and Hallaway took the scoreline to 4-4 and the shoot-out into sudden death, up stepped George Harris to place Barford 5-4 ahead, United's Rob Greenwood made it 5-5, Barford's Richard Thornton made it 6-5 to allow Windram to claim hero status in beating away United's seventh effort from Alex Fry.

Elsewhere league form was to rule, at Harvey Close Caldecote A beat fellow Division Three outfit Meppershall AFC 3-1, a penalty from Jack Boyd sixteen minutes in gave them the lead and thats the way it stayed until Sam Larsen levelled matters on the hour mark only to see goals from Ryan Ambrose and Daniel Spring win the day for the home side whilst at King George VI Playing Fields, Kings AFC run out easy 5-1 home winners over Riseley Sports Reserves, Rowan Hazelwood netting a hattrick to be joined on the scoresheet by Ben Whelan and Mark Loosemore against a Sports reply from Michael Darnell.

For Division One league leaders Flitwick Town it was the end of the cup trail losing 0-1 at home against Luton District & South Beds League side USL Galacticos but for Blunham Reserves and Farley Boys it will all be down to a Beds FA enquiry after their tie was abandoned ten minutes from time with Blunham leading 1-0 with a goal from Joe Cooper who at the time of the abandonment was already back in the dressing room after being red carded for two yellow card offences early in the second half.

Premier Division Supported By Sportsform

League leaders Caldecote were to have their ten game winning run brought to an end and suffer only their second league defeat of the season when losing 4-2 at Renhold United, the writing was on the wall early for the league leaders as United netted twice in the opening five minutes, first Jamil Ivy supplied the cross to enable Dave McCartney to shoot his side ahead before Ivy produced an individual run and finish from the edge of the penalty box to make it 2-0, Tom Wallace was to reduce the arrears to 2-1 but on 26minutes a cross from Paul Daniels was meet on the volley by McCartney to take United again two goals clear, which was where the scoreline stayed until ten minutes from time when Leeroy Odd gave the league leaders hope with a goal from the penalty spot but it proved to be a false dawn when after some good work by Raoul Limoan, Daniels was on hand to stroke home United's fourth goal to seal the points.

Caldecote's lead at the head of the table is now down to seven points after Meltis Corinthians who have three games in hand on them maintained their seasons unbeaten league record with a 3-0 home win over Henlow, leading via a 40th minute strike from Matthew McMahon his first goal of the season two goals inside a five minute spell around the hour mark by Justin Patterson and Dean Warren saw The Sweetboys home.

Also winning on home soil were Ickwell & Old Warden with a 3-0 win over Dunton much to the delight of manager Alan Turner who for the first time this season had a full squad of players to chose from, Steve Thomas opening the scoring after eight minutes which was doubled two minutes from the break by Zak Rowe whilst Thomas grabbed his second and Ickwell's third twenty minutes into the new half.

For AFC Kempston Town its now seven games since they last tasted victory after being held to a 1-1 draw by bottom of the table Bedford Sports Athletic, Town's Tom Pitts netting a own goal for the home side against a goal in the correct net from Shar Rahman, meanwhile Blunham needed to come from behind to claim a 2-1 win at Sharnbrook, James Billingham netting the home goal against replies from Percy Chagwizh.and Steve Capener.

Division One

With all The Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup action going on the Division One programme was reduced to just four games all of which were to be won by the visiting teams, at The Warren, Elstow Abbey were being sent to their seventh consecutive defeat when beaten 2-3 by Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves, goals in the opening half-hour from Tim Senior and Paul Reid quickly saw the visitors in control until Stevie Neal reduced the arrears to 1-2 until in the last action of the opening half Matthew Bruney restored Ickwell's two goal lead, a Daniel Carter strike from thirty-five yards out on his Abbey debut fifteen minutes from time set up a tense finish but somehow the visitors held out for the full three points, despite this defeat Abbey were to stay off of the bottom of the table after Marston Social came up with their first away win of the campaign 5-0 at Sandy Reserves to keep the Bedford Road boys bottom of the league table, James Armstrong and Daniel Parkes scoring twice alongside a strike from Steve Flaherty.

Just above these two teams in the table are Royal Oak Kempston who have now lost their last six home games after being beaten 3-0 by Woburn, Stuart Skolsky and Alex Ottaway adding goals to a Tim Bloyce penalty for the Safari Boys whilst the perfect set of away wins was brought up by Kempston winning 2-1 at Caldecote Reserves, goals from David Powell and Andy Klien doing the damage either side of a strike from Mike Robinson.

Division Two

The reduced Division Two programme saw Meppershall Jurassic lose their seasons unbeaten away record and miss the opportunity to climb into second spot in the league table when beaten 3-1 at Marston Shelton Rovers, Aaron Franks with a brace and Chris Patrickson doing the damage to a reply from Shin Miah, but still holding onto their seasons unbeaten away ways are Meltis Corinthians Reserves who claimed a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Clifton, John Sahota giving them the lead five minutes before half-time which was cancelled out five minutes after the break by a home goal from Alex Fisher.

The days other two games still sees Mulberry Bush looking for their first home win of the season after being beat 1-3 by Oakley Sports, Reserves, Carl Townsend, Ben Brown and Craig Cook the Oakley marksmen to a Bush reply from Shaun Cafferty whilst Lidlington United Sports were 1-0 home winners over Saffron at Hurst Grove thanks to a goal from Louis Weedon.

Division Three

Three Tuns Galacticos made it four away wins on the bounce with a 4-2 victory at Dunton Reserves, they were helped on their way with a own goal after just ten minutes yet were pegged back level two minutes later by a strike from Nicky Albone but the home sides cause was then not helped by Craig Hill getting himself sent-off and by half-time they found themselves 1-3 down, Dean Smith and Gary Jackson both netting for The Tuns who were to go 4-1 in front in the new half with a goal from Moni Nsiawete until a late James Cooper penalty brought up the final 2-4 scoreline.

It was a case of old is best at Greenfield Road where Flitwick Town Reserves ended a run of eight straight defeats by coming from 3-1 down to beat Westoning Recreation Club Reserves 4-3 thanks to The V Force, 42year old Mick Chesney netted the opening Town goal but an own goal plus strikes from John Bass and Dan Channon placed the hosts 3-1 ahead until the V Force again took to action, 48year old Clive Craig making in 2-3, whilst 42year old Steve Howath levelling matters to allow Chris Ball to hit the winner.

After losing their last ten games bottom of the table Kempston Athletic gained only their second point of the season when coming away from Stewartby Village with a share of the spoils from a 1-1 draw, Tom Wheelhouse shooting The Village ahead two minutes into the game until Gary Whitbread cancelled out matters twenty minutes from time.

The days final game in this section seeing Wilhamstead Reserves end a five game losing run in style with a 7-2 home win over Sandy A, the visitors struck first in the opening minute with a goal from David Smith but two goals from Tony McGovern one from the penalty spot plus strikes from Alley Morris, Garath Loadman and Colin Merritt saw the home side lead 5-1 at the break whilst both Morris and Loadman added to the tally in the new period against a reply from Sandy's Liam Evans.

Saturday January 24th Preview

Action this coming weekend in The Premier Division Supported By Sportsform sees league leaders Caldecote in home Harvey Close action looking to take their current home winning ways to eight games against a visiting Sharnbrook side that has won just twice on the road this season whilst the now second placed and still unbeaten Meltis Corinthians make the short journey to Hillgrounds to face a AFC Kempston Town side whose last taste of victory came some eight league games ago.

After last weeks Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy exit Campton will look to return to winning ways and keep their title hopes alive at Rectory Road but the task will not be a easy one has the visitors are Renhold United conquers of league leaders Caldecote last weekend.

Other top flight action comes at Moggerhanger Playing Fields where you would expect the host club Blunham to collect the full three points from their bottom of the table visitors Bedford Sports Athletic, at Horseshoes Close where hosts Dunton will face no easy task in ending their current three game losing run when Oakley Sports come calling whilst its local derby action at Groveside where home side Henlow look for their first home win of the season against vistors Ickwell & Old Warden.

The days final top flight action being at Jubilee Playing Fields where hosts and second from bottom of the table Wilshamstead now on a four game losing home run receive a visit from Riseley Sports.

In Division One, league leaders Flitwick Town will be hitting the road to The Green to face fourth place Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves whilst third place Campton Reserves would move up into second spot in the league table with the full three points from their visit to Bedford Road to face bottom of the table Sandy Reserves.

Over at The Warren second from bottom of the table Elstow Abbey could move themselves out of the drop zone with a point or better against a visiting Caldecote Reserves who sit just two places above them in the league standings and travel without a league away win to their name this season whilst at Greenfield Road, hosts Westoning Recreation Club are in home action seeking just their second home win of the campaign against the visiting Kempston Hammers Sports.

The days final game in this section taking AFC Kempston Town Reserves on the road to face Marston Social, yet for four other Division One sides its action in The Centenary Cup, at Crawley Road, Woburn host Kempston looking to earn a home Quarter-Final tie against Westoning Recreation Club while at Miller Road, Meltis Albion entertain Stevington for the right to host either Campton or Caldecote Reserves in the next round.

In Division Two the top action of the day should come at Mill Lane where the still unbeaten league leaders Blunham Reserves travel to face a in form Potton Wanderers side that has won six of its last seven league outings whilst you would have to fancy the chances of second place Great Barford collecting the full three points when they host second from bottom Mulbury Bush at their Playing Fields Headquarters.

For third place Meppershall Jurassic its home Jubilee Park action against a visting Kings AFC side that last lost on the road back in Mid-October whilst at the same venue sixth place Meltis Corinthians Reserves take on fifth place travellers Marston Shelton Rovers.

The days other action in this section coming in Russell Park where Saffon and Lidlington United Sports take to the field for the third time since the turn of the year against each other and at Cople Playing Fields which is the venue for Marabese Ceramics home clash with Oakley Sports Reserves, the visitors travelling on the back of two straight away wins whilst the hosts have lost their last three home league games.

In Division Three, league leaders Leighton United will be looking to maintain their seasons unbeaten home record when they host Meppershall AFC at Stanbridge Road to stay at least two points clear of second place Marsh Leys who will duly be expected to maintain their own 100% home record for the season when they take on Dunton Reserves in Hillgrounds.

Trailing The Marshmen by just a point in the table are Three Tuns Galaticos who will seek to return to winning home ways when they host Stewartby Village at Arlesey Playing Fields whilst Hillgrounds is also the venue for the clash of the bottom two sides in the standings where Kempston Athletic still without a win this season host Wilshamstead Reserves who are yet to win on the road this campaign.

Other action comes at Steppingley Road where Flitwick Town Reserves on a current losing home run of four games receive a visit from Caldecote A who travel on a seven game unbeaten league run, at Gold Street which is the venue where Riseley Sports Reserves will be seeking their first home win of the season against Sandy A whilst just down the road Renhold Village host Westoning Recreation Club Reserves in a middle of the table battle.